Last week, my band of 10 years came to an end.
It wasn't sudden, or unexpected - really, it's been a couple of years of gradual decline. I played my part in wrapping it up. But still, now that it's official there's a pang of sadness, because at our best I was really, really proud of us. We did 3 EPs and 2 Albums, signed to a small label, did a smattering of music videos, got reviewed in a national magazine and got on the radio a few times. And the response we've had to our announcement that it's over has been met by a lot of sadness and messages of support. So I can't say it was a failure!
What I am going to miss is the lockup room we've been in for the last 7 years. There's just no way I'll be able to afford it on my own, and I won't be able to put another band together quickly enough not to lose it. A 25 minute drive from my house, I've had a large rehearsal space I can keep my guitar rig set up with no volume constraints at all. Plus a drum kit, always ready to play. I've recorded loads in there - full bands, multitracked drums, able to spend hours on weeknights and weekends working up full band arrangements. It's felt like my very own music production workshop.
Next week my AC30, pedalboard, guitars etc are going to end up in my upstairs box room, mocking me.
I hope I can put something new together soon.
Comments
To encourage you, I would look upon the situation as the start of something brilliant (rather than the end of something that had grown tired).
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
(Alexei Sayle)
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Yup, and I always bring the jelly in the shape of a rabbit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62eTq8ErUOQ
i feel your pain, it’s hard because what is the next move? Do you have anything you want to personally achieve creatively? If so that has to be the thing that spurs you on.
My band is in a position where our first album did well, it was received well critically and we sold a few albums. But, then a few of us had kids and took our foot off the gas and now it’s time to try get the ball rolling again. It’s not easy. What I have done in the down time is work on a solo project, something I’ve always wanted to do but didn’t maybe have the will or confidence to do. The downtime and modecum of favoursom reviews gave me the confidence to make some of the music I had wanted to do.
Perhaps if you have something you want to achieve now is the time?